Resident says nearby train causing damage to house

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All across northern Illinois, communities have been trying to shine a light on increased freight traffic from the Canadian National Railway.

Connie Volanti says it’s not just the noise that’s a problem but her house is literally falling apart.

It’s not severe damage but small things that she’s afraid will build up over time. Some of the walls and base boards are separating she thinks due to the vibrations of heavy trains on the tracks which are about 300 feet from her Matteson home.

Volanti has written letters to CN and an inspector has visited her home to check the damage. CN told her the damage is due to the ground shifting because of recent frost.

While Volanti continues to tell her story, she is encouraged by the work of Senator Dick Durbin. He recently mailed a letter to CN blaming them for ignoring safety and congestion complaints.

WGN reached out to CN about Volanti’s damage. The company sent out a statement saying, “CN cannot eliminate noise and vibration altogether. As a backbone of the North American economy and a company focused on getting customer shipments delivered on time, we must operate our railroad 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”